Microplastic Analysis in Food: Why It Matters and How We Study It
Plastic materials continue to expand across multiple sectors thanks to their versatility, strength, cost-efficiency, flexibility, and durability. These advantages make plastics essential in applications ranging from food packaging to electronics and construction. In the food sector, they play a key role in ensuring safety, extending shelf life, and reducing food waste. At the same time, scientific and regulatory interest has increased regarding what happens to plastics at the end of their service life—particularly their potential fragmentation into microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs). Understanding their presence in food is becoming increasingly important for both industry and regulators.
A changing regulatory landscape for microplastics
Recent legislative developments reflect this growing concern. Regulations such as Royal Decree 3/2023 on drinking water quality and Regulation (EU) 2023/2055, which restricts intentionally added microplastics, have raised industry awareness and increased the demand for reliable information on the presence of MNPs in food.
Currently, there is no specific European legislation regulating the migration of MNPs from food-contact materials (FCMs). Regulation (EU) 10/2011 regulates chemical substances but does not yet consider solid polymer particles. This gap has been repeatedly highlighted by EFSA in reports published in 2016, 2020, and in its October 2025 review, along with the absence of standardized analytical methodologies.
For this reason, it is reasonable to anticipate that future updates to EU legislation may include specific requirements for monitoring the presence or potential migration of MNPs in food.
For companies, anticipating future regulation brings clear benefits: smooth compliance, increased consumer trust, and a competitive advantage by ensuring safe, microplastic-free products.
How we extract and analyze microplastics in food samples
Accurately analysing microplastics in food is challenging because food matrices contain fats, proteins, starches, and other organic components that can interfere with detection.
To address this, we develop methodologies to extract and quantify MNPs in products such as salt, rice, vegetables, bottled water, as well as in the packaging that contains them. These methods typically involve two main steps:
1. Sample preparation and extraction
- Oxidation of organic matter to remove major interferences.
- Density-based extraction using inorganic salts to isolate MNPs from the matrix.
When evaluating packaging, the global migration test can be adapted using a food simulant and controlled time and temperature conditions. This approach allows assessment of MNPs in the simulant rather than the food itself, simplifying extraction.
2. Analytical techniques
Once extracted, microplastics are analysed using two complementary techniques:
µ-FTIR Microscopy
A non-destructive method that determines:
- morphology
- size
- particle count
- polymer composition
- for particles larger than 10–15 µm.
Its non-destructive nature allows coupling with additional characterization techniques—particularly valuable when working with complex samples.
Py-GC/MS
A highly sensitive, destructive technique that:
- pyrolyzes the sample at 600 °C
- separates volatile fragments via gas chromatography
- identifies and quantifies polymers by mass spectrometry
Unlike µ-FTIR, this method does not provide particle size information—only mass-based quantification.
Meeting the challenge of complex food matrices
Food samples are inherently complex, which makes microplastic analysis demanding. This is why we continually refine extraction protocols for different matrices and work to lower detection and quantification limits—ensuring consistent, high-quality analytical results.
Looking ahead
As awareness and regulation around microplastics continue to grow, reliable methodologies and early preparedness will be essential for the food industry. Staying ahead of future requirements not only supports compliance but also reinforces consumer trust and demonstrates a strong commitment to food safety. Contact our Laboratory.